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Bourn showing off newfound power stroke

Bourn showing off newfound power stroke

Michael Bourn

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ATLANTA -- After a leadoff home run in Tuesday's 8-1 victory against the D-backs, Braves center fielder Michael Bourn has a career-high seven home runs just 73 games into the season. In fact, more than a third of his 20 career home runs have come since May 12.

But Bourn isn't suddenly thinking of himself as a power hitter. He said he hasn't asked Matt Kemp, the National League Home Run Derby captain, to consider him for a spot in the competition.

"I'm not in that league," Bourn said. "That's not for me."

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he doesn't think of Bourn as just a singles hitter, despite his .369 career slugging percentage.

"I think he has a pretty good baseball swing," Gonzalez said. "And he's a strong kid. You get him in the wheelhouse, he can run you out of the ballpark. He's not going to be one of those guys that chops the ball and runs."